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It is no secret that some Irish people have a reputation of being quite tough and rugged characters, which is a stereotype Irish people, not surprisingly, actually don’t like.
However, that same association turned out to be perfect background for some of the most popular pro wrestlers – even contributing the sport to gain considerable ground among the sports fans – much like the JackpotCity online casino is also emerging as fan-favorite entertainment source when it comes to well-known games like blackjack, online slots, and other games.
This piece will focus on top-rated Irish wrestlers whose success in the ring made them fan favorites in Ireland and the global wrestling fan base. Here are the top 5 Irish pro wrestlers that achieved mainstream success.
5. Finn Balor
Finn Balor was born in Bray. He made his mark at the WWE SummerSlam 2016 when he overcame Seth Rollins. He made history with the win by becoming the first-ever WWE Universal Champion. Regrettably, he held the title for only one day before a shoulder injury forced him to vacate it.
After falling from the main event, Finn has won the Intercontinental Championship two times. Wrestling fans will remember him for the charming presence he brought to wrestling. He has also introduced a remarkable alter-ego to the business called Demon King. Finn left Raw in 2019 and is currently on NXT. The Irishman has the advantage of being young and has a bright future ahead of him.
4. Sheamus
Sheamus goes by several nicknames, including Celtic Conqueror, The Celtic Warrior, or The Great White. The Irishman has had an illustrious career in the WWE for ten years. The wrestler who hails from Clonsilla, Dublin, has been successful in the ring with three WWE Championships and one World Heavyweight Championship.
Sheamus is famous for dominating his challengers in the ring with the signature Brogue Kick. Possibly his best Brogue Kick was at the Grandest Stage of Them All. Sheamus came up against Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 28 to fight for the World Heavyweight Championship. Within 18 seconds, Sheamus brought down Bryan with a Brogue Kick, winning his first and only World Heavyweight championship.
3. Danno O’Mahoney
Danno is the oldest wrestler on this list and arguably the most talented. The wrestling star was born in 1912 on a farm in Dreenlomane, Ballydehob, County Cork. He was a strong lad right from his childhood. It is said that the priest that baptized him as a child was amazed by his strength and said that he was the strongest child he had ever seen.
Danno began training in wrestling and boxing in the Irish Army. A wrestling promoter discovered him in training and helped him kick-start his extraordinary wrestling career. At 22, Danno was already the undisputed world wrestling champion. However, his most significant wrestling mark is not the accolades, but he originated the Irish Whip, which is the most used wrestling move to date.
2. Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch is celebrated as the face of women’s professional wrestling. There is a time in 2019 that she held both the SmackDown and Raw Women’s titles, bolstering her status as a wrestling superstar. Lynch, who was born in Dublin, began wrestling in 2002 and grew to become the celebrated superstar she is today.
She made history at WrestleMania 36 for taking part in the first-ever women’s main event at Mania. Other ladies that took part in the event were Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey. Later, she overcame Shayna Baszlaer at WrestleMania 36 and has been the RAW Women’s Championship holder for more than a year. Her pregnancy forced her to relinquish the title. But wrestling fans know she is not done yet.
1. Vince McMahon Jr.
Some will argue that Vince wasn’t born in Ireland. That’s true but, his grandfather Roderick was an Irish immigrant. Furthermore, Vince’s father, McMahon Sr., treasured his Irish heritage and passed that pride to his son. As a result, Vince Jr. always identifies himself as a descendant of Ireland.
In 1979, Vince Sr. gave Terry Bollea, a budding wrestler, an Irish ring name because of his love for Ireland. The name he gave was Hulk Hogan, and the rest is history. Later, Vince Sr. handed the business to his son, who took it to the next level by building a sports empire. Vince Jr. has also had great success in the ring. He has won the WWF Championship, ECW Championship, and the Royal Rumble in 1999.